402


EQUINE VETERINARY EDUCATION


Equine vet. Educ. (2020) 32 (8) 402 doi: 10.1111/eve.13030_1


Case Report


Cystic intra-abdominal testicles: Standing laparoscopic removal in two colts


A. B. M. Rijkenhuizen†* , D. Lichtenberg‡ and K. Weitkamp§ †Veterinary Clinic Wijk bij Duurstede, Wijk bij Duurstede, The Netherlands; ‡Equine Clinic Hochmoor, Gescher; and §Equine Clinic Telgte, Telgte, Germany


*Corresponding author email: a.rijkenhuizen@gmail.com Keywords: horse; testicle; laparoscopy; cystic testicle; teratoma; cystic rete testis


Summary


This case report describes the laparoscopic approach for removal of cystic intra-abdominal testicles in the standing colt. A 3-year-old Tobiano and a 2-year-old Warmblood colt were referred for abdominal cryptorchidectomy. The horses were clinically and ultrasonographically examined and a presumptive diagnosis of unilateral abdominal cryptorchidism was made. A laparoscopic approach via the flank was used to localise each abdominal testicle (Fig 1). In both colts the abdominal testicle was enlarged and cystic (Fig 2). Each spermatic cord was ligated and fluid was aspirated from the testicle. By reducing the size of the mass minimally invasive removal through an enlarged instrumental portal was possible. Histopathology revealed a cystic rete testis in the Tobiano and a teratoma in the Warmblood. Enlarged abdominal testicles can complicate routine castration, certainly when performed by conventional surgery. Laparoscopy offers the chance to localise the abdominal testicle and when the testicle is


abnormal in size it can be physically reduced by aspiration of fluid in the case of a cystic lesion, using a morcellator in case of firm tissue or simply removed via an enlarged incision. In these cases the cystic enlarged testicles were nonpainful and were incidental findings. A cystic testicle might be developmental (Tobiano case) or arise due to neoplastic transformation (Warmblood case). The laparoscopic approach for enlarged cyst-like testicles in the standing horse offers a secure minimally invasive method for removal.


a)


b)


Fig 2: Macroscopic view of the retrieved mass. a) Warmblood horse. b) Tobiano horse.


Key points


• The laparoscopic approach for enlarged cystic testicles in the standing horse offers a secure minimally invasive method for removal.


• An abnormally sized testicle (developmental or pathological) itself might be the primary cause of the cryptorchism.


Fig 1: The emptied cystic testicle was removed intact by connecting the two instrument portals to a length of 5 cm using a modified grid technique.


• A cystic testicle might be developmental or arise due to neoplastic transformation (Figs 1 and 2).


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